Lake Cruise Harks To An Older Florida

November 9, 1997|By GEORGINA CRUZ Special to the Sun-Sentinel

It was nearing sunset on Lake Dora, and the calm waters were liquid smoke. Only the cries of a couple of blackbirds broke the stillness of the early evening. A blue heron waded among the cattails, and an egret glided silently by.

Handfuls of tourists began arriving on the wooden pier by the Lakeside Inn for the sunset cruise.

``Is that it?'' an elderly woman from Miramar asked incredulously when a pontoon boat pulled up. It was a very plain craft, open on all sides and looking badly in need of a coat of paint. Wooden planks served as benches along the two sides, and one shorter plank created additional seating in the middle.

The Liki Tiki (Hawaiian for Love Boat) was indeed our vessel for the next hour. There were no drinks, no bathroom, no life vests that we could see anywhere, just four seat cushions like those one might take to a football game. On the middle bench there was a book on birds and two pairs of binoculars to share among the passengers.

But the boat seemed to fit well in this land of rolling hills, sparkling lakes, scenic hammocks and leisurely pace. The craft rode smoothly across the water, its unassuming appearance actually an aid as we let our minds wander back to a Florida that once was.

The journey took us along the shores of six-mile-long Lake Dora and adjacent Lake Beauclaire to see the sights: Mount Dora's Boathouse Row, with its old boathouses now converted into homes; Grantham Point, with the 35-foot red-and-white Mount Dora lighthouse; Palm Island Park, with its boardwalk from which it is possible to see some of the 200 species of birds identified in the region, plus alligators, otters and raccoons.

We saw no gators, otters or raccoons, but we did see green herons, blue herons, egrets, anhingas, ospreys, ducks and geese in the neighborhood of the park.

And all nine passengers shared the binoculars and ooh'ed and aah'ed at the sight of a pair of bald eagles sitting high on a cypress branch.

On the shores of Lake Beauclaire we saw a second pair of bald eagles, these perched near their nest high in a pine tree. We could not tell if there was an eaglet in the nest; we could only hope.

Georgina Cruz's last story for Travel was on Chichen Itza. She lives in Miramar.